NU Online News Service, Jan. 29, 2:41 p.m. EST

The CPCU Society said it has established a special fund to aid victims of the Haiti earthquake and plans to make a matching donation of up to $25,000.

The Malvern, Pa.-based education society for insurance professionals carrying the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters designation said the CPCU Society Haiti Emergency Relief Fund will contribute to the Clinton/Bush Haiti Fund of former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

Society members and chapters have been asked to submit their contributions by Feb. 19 so that the aid can be provided expeditiously.

"The Society's members hold a vast array of positions in the property and casualty insurance industry, including as agents, brokers, underwriters, risk managers, adjusters, accountants and attorneys," explained Society Chief Executive Officer James R. Marks.

His membership, he said, is "keenly sensitive to tragic events and deeply sympathetic with the suffering of the Haitian people. The establishment of the CPCU Society Haiti Emergency Relief Fund, as it is called, is a vehicle for them to express their great concern about the Haitians' plight."

CPCU in donating joins a continually expanding list of insurance industry members making arrangements to aid Haiti. Among the groups donating are:

o OneBeacon Charitable Trust, which said it will donate a total of $71,000 ($48,000 from the trust and the rest in employee contribution and matching grants) to five organizations--American Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, Habitat for Humanity, Partners in Health and UNICEF--to aid in Haitian relief. Almost $30,000 will go the American Red Cross.

o Yesterday, the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America established the Trusted Choice Disaster Relief Fund. Information for contributions is online at www.independentagent.com.

o The Risk and Insurance Management Society said it made a $10,000 donation to the Red Cross on Monday.

o Fireman's Fund and its employees donated $67,816 to the American Red Cross for Haiti relief efforts.

o The Nationwide Insurance Foundation donated $150,000 to the Red Cross Haiti Disaster Relief Fund. The company said the foundation will match contributions of Nationwide employees of $25 or more to the United Way Worldwide Disaster Relief Fund, which is providing assistance to victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

o Atlanta-based claims services provider Crawford & Co. said it contributed $10,000 to Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres to aid the group's medical relief efforts in Haiti.